Anastas Mikoyan vs Mario Monti

Mikoyan joined the Bolshevik faction of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party. This decision aligned him with Lenin's revolutionary movement, setting the course for his long political career in the Soviet Union.

Mikoyan was appointed People's Commissar for Trade of the USSR. He oversaw the implementation of Stalin's industrialization policies and the collectivization of agriculture, managing food supply and distribution.

During Stalin's Great Purge, Mikoyan was one of the few top Bolsheviks who survived without being executed or imprisoned. He continued to hold high office, demonstrating his political survival skills.

Mikoyan was appointed First Deputy Premier under Nikita Khrushchev. He played a key role in de-Stalinization and economic reforms, including the introduction of the sovnarkhoz system.

Mikoyan became Chairman of the Presidium of the Supreme Soviet, the nominal head of state of the USSR. He served until 1965, when he was forced to retire by Leonid Brezhnev.

Monti served as European Commissioner for Competition under Jacques Santer, later becoming Commissioner for the Internal Market. He was known for antitrust actions against Microsoft and GE/Honeywell, shaping EU competition policy.

Monti was appointed as a technocratic Prime Minister by President Napolitano, replacing Silvio Berlusconi during the European debt crisis. He formed a government of unelected experts to implement austerity measures and structural reforms.

Monti's government passed a series of austerity budgets, pension reforms, and labor market liberalization (Fornero reform) to reduce Italy's public debt and restore market confidence. These measures sparked protests and social unrest.

Monti resigned after the center-left coalition led by Pier Luigi Bersani withdrew support, following the 2013 general election where his centrist coalition performed poorly. He was succeeded by Enrico Letta.